The Extreme Makeover of Lower Kinnear Park

Queen Anne’s Lower Kinnear Park has recently ignited a firestorm of passion and metropolitan utilitarianism from our local community. That’s why FOLKpark is hosting three community meetings to elicit ideas from as many different perspectives as possible. Are you a park neighbor, business owner or property agent who has an active stake in the future of Lower Kinnear Park? Now is your chance to give this project a gentle nudge in the right direction. FOLKpark is now reinforced by the design muscle of HBB Landscape Architecture; they just need YOU to breathe life into the conceptual design plan through an ongoing, progressive discussion for new ideas regarding the park’s joys, opportunities and challenges. Their objective is to transform Lower Kinnear Park into a dynamic, all-inclusive expanse of interconnected beauty whose future will be determined through the commitment and accountability of its community.

“The future of Lower Kinnear Park is here now,” say Debi Frausto, FOLKpark chair. “This is not a wait and see project. It has begun and is gaining momentum with every idea exchanged between neighbors and business owners. My biggest surprise was how so many people are already invested in the park. We had neighbors who don’t play tennis but enjoy watching others swing their racket on the court; Audubon bird watchers who count the raptors; employees who cut through the park on their way to work everyday and walkers who haven’t used the trails in over a year but would like to start again. Each person has a unique story about their investment to the park. Now is time to leverage the energy and combine the stories.”

All meetings will be held at Bayview Retirement Community, 11 W. Aloha Street (Map).

On Saturday, January 09, FOLKpark hosted a community walk through Lower Kinnear Park with designers from HBB Landscape Architecture to introduce them to the park’s beauty and features from a park-user perspective. FOLKpark had a strong showing of more than 30 people, including members of both the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Parks Department.

FOLKpark is also on Facebook. To become a fan and keep up to date on all of FOLKpark’s news, activities, photos and events, click here. You can also check out their website at www.folkpark.org.